i was wonderering if anyone had any ideas to raise money for my chosen charities one is cancer research as my nan recently died so i would like to give something to them and the other is cystic fibrosis which my cousin has she always gets treated at great ormand street hospital in london they have been so good for the 18 years she has been going there she wants me to help her raise some money so i dont mind just wondering what everyone thinks.

thanks

I helped out with a Charity Event a year or so ago. There were a few different stalls and a lady demonstrating Virgin Vie.

I was sat at the side of her doing mini manicures - just a general shape and paint using the Virgin Vie products. Took me about 15 mins

I charged £5 per person and all the money went to the Charity. Incidentally, it was Cancer Research. I raised about £60 just do the mani's. I was so busy, but it was great and a real feel good factor after, knowing that you'd done something to help.

HTH's

I saw a charity nails thing the other day (i cant remember where?) & they painted as many pinkies as they could in the day & charged £1 each.

Maybe you could paint pinkies & do a little nail art cancer ribbon in different colours, pink is breast cancer, teal is Overian cancer etc & charge £1 eachxx

Thats a fab idea Shelley!

I remember seeing one a couple of years ago in our local paper. A salon was raising some money for Cancer and it was titled something like ..Put your Hands Out or Give us a Hand Out or similar. They were racing to do as many polishes as they could in a certain amount of time for $5 each I think, same as the Pinky comment above.

They had Tshirts made up and everything and it was a huge turnout! I think they also invited other Techs from around the area to join them so there were heaps of girls doing the polishing.

As I have worked as a professional "Fundraiser" for Breakthrough Breast Cancer for some time I have LOTS of fundraising ideas - I have put down some, some nails related - and some ... well not ! Cancer Research (my dad has cancer) are running some amazing events at the moment - great wall of china walk, peru treck etc - in that way u are asking people to donate ... because .. having a solid goal often makes people more inclined to donate.

Number one rule of Fundraising is to ASK and ASK BIG

Set up a personal page on www.justgiving.co.uk here you can set up your own personal page where people can donate directly to your cause with a credit or debit card. I dont know whether you have a salon etc but print up some cards with the web url of your just giving page and give them to customers - give them to everyone you know !

Use press releases - Cancer Research will provide you with a press release, if you decide to hold an "event" send a press release to your local news paper and ask them to print it - with the URL of your just giving page - you will be amazed how many kind strangers donate.

Use the fact you will donate "x amount" of any service you give for a month period to donate to your chosen charity - use this as a source of marketing.

Have a spare change pot on your reception desk - you will be amased how many people pop in their spare change.

USE SCHOOLS - the average secondary school has 1000 pupils, if you have children approach the teacher / governers and ask if they can hold a non uniform day - if every child donates £1 thats £1000 raised in one day.

Ask your employer to double match you - whatever you raise- they will add the same

EBAY - utilise the ebay charity auction function - you dont pay fee's and get rid of all your junk to a good cause.

Your local Council can give you a license to collect money in pubs and clubs - Cancer Research will also provide you with a collection bucket and official pass once you have the licence.

As I say, the most important thing about raising money is to ask - think of when you were a kid - if you asked and asked and asked for sweets you were always likely to get them - fundraising is the same, get back into the mindset of a child, be cheeky and fun - REALLY good luck - and if you need any other tips - or a bit of insider info please feel free to PM me,

Best Wishes,

Lucy x

Have you thought about hosting your own auction night?

If there are any fairly decent football or rugby clubs in your area that might donate a signed ball or shirt, a couple for treatments from you and anything else you can get your hands on - the odd man to be a slave for a day - might help.

Or even do a calander using images of your nail art?